Police: Flowertown Festival merchandise theft caught on surveillance cameras

By Harve Jacobs

Photo Source: Hanahan Police
Surveillance Image (Photo Source: Hanahan Police Dept.)
SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) - The man who stole a trailer full of merchandise for sale at this weekend's Flowertown Festival was caught on surveillance cameras right before the crime, police say.

Hats, tee shirts and mannequins belonging to Bryan Florie were inside the trailer when it was stolen outside his Hanahan home Wednesday morning.

Florie says the thief cut a lock to get the trailer.

It was Hanahan Police Chief Michael Cochran's idea to ask the Berkeley County School District to check their surveillance cameras.

Cochran says the man and his white Yukon were seen on cameras outside Hanahan High School Wednesday morning. Cochran says the video shows the man putting a trailer hitch on the back of his truck.

The chief says a man fitting the same description was seen knocking on the front door at the victim's house.

"I was angry. We have worked hard for what we have and someone walks up in your yard, knocks on your door and apparently steals from you, so we were pretty upset," Florie said.

Florie says fortunately he had extra merchandise to sell and he has a booth at the festival this weekend.

"I thought we would not be able to do Flowertown but we were able to pull it off," Florie said.

Florie says the trailer and the stolen merchandise are valued at about $8,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (843) 554-1111.

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